More Rambling

Its Friday, if you weren’t aware.  Most people are.  I remember making a huge deal about fridays when I actually had a reason to look forward to one particular day that would be the last day of “work” and then two days of “not working”.  Life was surely simple at one time.  Ten years from now I’m gonna look back on these past few years and think “wow, that was sure a simple time.”

Maybe not.

But still . . . easier to look back and see the simplicity than find simplicity in the present.

At least for me.

I woke up this morning to Tob crawling into bed . . . his ice cold feet being the first thing to draw me from the depths of dreamland in to the early morning now. ugh. He curled up and was quiet for all of 2 minutes . . . then his hand was a spider crawling over my face and then he asked to eat breakfast . . . “get up get up, breakfast time!”

No noise from Sam . . . he was still sleeping.  Angel child of mine.

Finally . . . after it was confirmed he could eat cereal for breakfast and watch Wally sometime today, I gave up trying to sneak a few extra winks and got up . . . bleery eyed and EXHAUSTED.

This has been happening a lot the last few weeks, a month maybe.  Just downright tired when I crawl out of bed.  I blame being under the weather and having my teeth pulled in the middle of being ill . . . just trying to recuperate, I believe.

Can someone fill in for me til I feel better?  . . . That’d be great. Thanks.

But . . . no, no one is coming, are they?

I just sat around after making breakfast . . . making breakfast, thats a laugh.  Pouring bowls of cereal and adding milk . . . hard job, it is. Actually keeping the cereal coming as fast as they can devour it is the hard part.  When did they start putting away so much food??!!

Anyway . . . just sat around trying to get the drive to be active and productive and all that.  Finally got my butt up and decided a workout was in order.  I managed to dress the boys, pack, load them up and get to the Kroc Center by 10:45am.  Not bad.

I thought Tob was gonna have a conniption fit over not getting to swim right away.  Instead I put both boys in child care, which they were both very excited about (weird), and went and worked out.  I guess I should of worked out longer cuz Tob was totally not ready to go when I came to get them for swimming.

Kind of weirded me out really.

So that was our morning this morning.  Now I have a diaper full of housework to do and I kind of want to nap.  That is unfortunate . . . the working out didn’t make me feel any more awake.  But we enjoyed ourselves.

Now the boys are sleeping soundly and I’m wasting even more time on here . . . I win!

Justin is at his clinical at Meridian Hospital, here in Salem, today.  I believe he’s with the respiratory therapist.  He was in the OR on Tuesday . . . he was putting the tubing stuff they use in the patient’s throats for operations, doing IV’s, administering drugs and all sorts of stuff. Wait a minute . . . maybe I should of gone to school for this stuff. Nah, I’m to air-brained.  I don’t want my spaciness to truly kill anyone. I make him tell me everything he did and saw when he comes home from these things . . . follow him around the house, stalking him really and ask lots of questions.  Sometimes a conversation with Justin feels more like an interrogation . . . me interrogating him, one question after another.  I told him I wouldn’t do that so much if he would just talk more and fill in the details . . . you know, before I asked.

It really is amazing how much I feel I have to say to him after spending a day with a 3 and 4 year old.  Just simple things.  ”I really gotta cut my toenails, they’re getting out of hand.”  ”Did you know Thanksgiving is next week?” (about the 20th time I’ve confirmed this with him in the past 2 days)  Then sometimes I just talk and talk and talk . . . kind of like I do on here . . . from one subject to the next . . . filling him in on family drama and non-drama . . . talking about anything and everything.  He doesn’t even pretend to listen and sometimes this annoys and offends me . . . but it doesn’t stop me from rambling on and on and on.

Something might be wrong with me.

Maybe I should be a hairdresser or a bartender.

Maybe I would be a really annoying hairdresser or bartender . . . and they’d just tell me to shutup.

Justin never tells me to shutup . . . if I stop and act offended he’s not listening . . . he tells me my dribble is distracting and weirdly soothing, to keep talking.  :)

Thats what it is for you crazies that read my blog . . . weirdly soothing . . . hahaha!

I have decided Fred Meyer has the best Whole Wheat bagels of all time.  Though Safeway does a stellar job too with their fresh bagels. MMM! I love a good bagel. And that whipped cream cheese, that stuff is from heaven above.  Ok, maybe I’ve seen too many commercials.

I always buy the same kind of creamer.  Vanilla non-fat.  I bought vanilla nut this past week . . . talk about gross. The fake nut flavor made me gag.  I bought coconut creme one time and could hardly taste the difference between that one and good ol’vanilla.  I guess my usual is my usual for a reason.

Life keeps going.  I feel really quite blessed . . . God just keeps providing and meeting us where we are.

Have a blessed weekend one and all!!

 

Two More Makes Four

We live in an apartment.  It is not small, it is not huge . . . its adequate in its 3 bedroom capacity to house our small family of 2 boys and a set of parents.

A couple of times a week I watch two more tots . . . same age as my boys, 3 and 4 . . . close enough that I can say that.  I think Jordan turns 3 in December.  Thats beside the point.

When you get 4 boys under 5 in an average sized 3 bedroom apartment . . . trapped indoors due to rain and hail and cold winds . . . it is amusing, trying and “I-should-be-documenting-this-for-some-reality-show-revealing-of-tot-behavior-whilst-trapped-indoors-for-hours” kind of feeling.

I’ll leave it to the producers to think of a shorter name for the documentary.

Perhaps

“Trying Times in Tot-Land”.

Or something stupid like that.

The boys I watch are fantastic kids.  The listen and help pick up when I announce those times.  They eat politely and are mostly nice to my boys.  They use the potty . . . without me reminding them too much.  They stay out of the garbage and leave the fridge alphabet magnets on the fridge . . . while and after playing with them.  They buckle themselves in their carseats . . . no help from me, just a bit of supervision.  They share, for the most part, and enjoy interacting with my kids.

Unlike some other tots that live here . . . that listen on when I get that tone in my voice and pick up if I’m standing over them.  I’m pretty sure Tob had his dinner plate taken away tonight for throwing carrots at Sam, across the room, so the eating politely thing is stricken.  I don’t think I’ll talk too much about the “being nice to others” bit . . . except to say that wrestling and rough housing is fine for a little while and then the boys were done . . . well, not my boys, just the boys I was watching. I hate poop . . . poop in the toilet!!  ”Didn’t I just throw that empty Wheat Thins box in the garbage, Tob? Huh? Why are you using it for a car ramp? And, no, you can’t have the lid off he discarded milk carton either!” Gross! The stove is not my favorite spot for the alphabet magnets to be sported. You know, hefting a 20 pound 15 month old in a car seat . .. oh, who am I kidding . . . 30 pound 15 month old in a car seat was a feat of sorts.  I do believe that constitutes as an all-body workout.  Hoisting a 45 pound 4.5 year old into a car seat that now sits in a 4×4 SUV. . . I think my back is out.  I don’t think Sam ever relinquished the highly sought after ‘Mac’ truck (from the movie Cars) . . . the one thats made of plastic that is missing half its parts, not to mention missing the trailer that attaches to it . . . piece of plastic crap.  ”Take my friends back,” Tob kept saying all evening.  I didn’t really comprehend what he was referring to . . . then Aaron decided to clarify . . . “I think he wants to you take us back home.”  So frickin sweet my kids are! Like merchandise . . . just take them back.  Hmmm . . . is there return/exchange for kids?

Actually I love my kids . . . no worries.

I mean . . . who couldn’t love this!

Two  . . . two is a good number.

~blessings

Oh, Hey, Its Me . . . We Live

It is November already and I can’t even get close to getting over how quickly this past year has flooowwnn by.  Blows my mind actually.

The boys are doing fantastic!  Tob enjoys school so very much . . . Sam is huge.  Huge, I tell you!  Yeah, he wears size 5.  5. Size 5.  Tob and Sam wear the same size in clothes and are about size apart in shoes. They are 17 months apart, right?

Just checking.

I hate rain . . . hate it.  I went out into it anyway today . . . walking and jogging (jogging used lightly) for Byron’s sake, really. Poor puppy dog, I think he misses summertime more than me . . . thats pretty bad.

I put his rain coat on . . . thats why I bought it.  A bright yellow rain coat made for Byron’s size.  We get home, I take it off and the underside of the “raincoat” was damp.  Whats the point if its not waterproof?

Anyhow . . . then my loverly friend, Jalaine, brought Taebo Kick-My-Butt over and, well, kicked my abs really.  Buns are tomorrow . . . I know you’re thrilled. Maybe I’ll actually start making a dent in the 10 or so pounds I put on through the past 6 months . . . grr.

We did get a membership to the Kroc Center, thanks to Tob’s preschool, its a brand new fitness club, pool and community center not a mile from my house.  That has been the biggest blessing!  And in the nic of time, this stinkin’ cold winter weather limits the old outdoor time, for sure. The pool is super cute, made for kids and the boys have loved every second.  Mom loves the workout facility and daycare so I can actually USE the workout facility.  Nice!

Justin is in the thick of the Paramedic Program . . . he has started clinicals, about 2 weeks ago, and next week that ups to clinicals three times a week, plus school, plus studying, etc.

Holy Crud . . . and thank ya, Lord . . . all at the same time.

We do get to make the trip to Washington for Thanksgiving with my parents . . . yeah, they are currently residing in the Trij-Cities, if you didn’t know.  Much closer than Vegas. Justin has the weekend and I’m so looking forward to the family time!!

Tob has taken to calling us different kinds of animals.  He has settled on me being a rabbit, Justin being an elephant, Sam being a turtle and himself being a frog.  Its been this way for a month . . . he reminds me of our animal kingdom names every few days.

Myron . . . that is what Tob decided Byron’s name was today and there was no telling him otherwise!  Myron, kinda cuter than Byron.  Hmm.

The imagination of a 4 year old boy. I won’t talk about the smartelic remarks that come from the same beautiful face.

So, here’s to living . . . my life is really not very exciting so I haven’t written very much lately.  Just wanted to pop in here and let ya’ll know we still exist . . . our hearts are still oxygenating blood and pumping away . . . though Justin has informed me after the billionth time of listening to my heartbeat over the course of the last few months that I have an irregular rythm every once in awhile.  I asked if I was going to die, he said no, so I think no more of it. The heart has its own electricity . . . I love learning this stuff and making it my very own . . . how freakin awesome is that?  And I’m not tested and graded . . . much funner!

My wisdom teeth were pulled out, all four of them, on Friday.  Awesome, cuz the two bottom ones were rotting.  Painful, it has been . . . but apparently very normal healing process. They feel like giant holes in my head . . . my friend informed me the grow together, in other words the holes go away over about a month’s span of time.

Cool . . . hurry up about it!  I love almonds and almonds are IMPOSSIBLE to eat without getting the little almond crumbs in those gosh darn holes.  grr.

The hardships of life.

Justin was at school all day . . . now he’s at the gym . . . he’ll be back anytime now.  I better go for now, I suppose. I might need to go to bed as well.

Huh.

Well . . . have a loverly week!  Happy Veterans day, for Wed., I surely appreciate whats been done for me and mine, including my country!!

 

Preschool

Tobias started preschool yesterday.  We are poor, in this season of our lives, while Justin finishes school and such.  So I enrolled in him Community Action Headstart . . . where they take the lack of fundage into account and work with us.  I don’t wanna sound stuck up but I was a little concerned about what the classroom would be like, his fellow students and what kind of staff they would have as a low income facility.

I went to orientation last Friday and was beyond pleasantly surprised with the bright, well stocked, and cheeriness of the classroom.  It was relatively new classroom with a large, fenced, yard with playground equipment, sand box and other fun things.  Then I met his teacher and was again happy with her warm but direct nature. There’s an assistant teacher as well.  There’s only 15 or so kids and I wasn’t as worried about them as Tob just having the opportunity to learn.

So, as much as I wanted to find the top notch preschool and pay through the nose (which we can’t right now) I am so very grateful for the ability for us to send Tob . . . and for it to be so great despite being a low income labeled thing . . . and for him to be able to interact with other kids his age and learn and grow, spread his wings, just a little, away from home.

At 11:50am . . . we are standing in the parking lot of the local Senior Center, which happens to be just down the street from me, waiting with a few other classmates for the bus to arrive.

Eventually it pulls in and  Tob about came out of his skin he was so thrilled.  Justin climbed onboard with him, buckled him in, and accompanied him, on the bus, to school.

So, I was all worried about Tob not wanting to go or just having a hard time once he was there or just the next few days adjusting to the time away from home, lack of nap and the routine of it.

But, no, Samuel is the one that had the hard time.  Adjusting to his bro being gone and not getting to ride the bus too . . . my goodness.  Every 15 – 30 minutes Sam would ask where Tob was and if he could ride the bus too.

But, all in all it was a good experience.  Tob was thrilled when he arrived home and jabbered about it for quite some time . . . apparently the sandbox was fabulous and his favorite.

Back today, for day 2 of preschool.

Sorry if this is way to detailed of a report regarding . . . did it more for my fragile memory than anything else.

God bless!

I Got a Bomb in Me Pants

Sorry, we’re watching Wallace and Gromit . . . A Matter of Loaf and Death.  Gromit says that about the bomb in his pants bit.

Um, now that I over-explained that.

Summer is almost over!!  What happened?? I was driving the other day, cuz I do that once in awhile, and noticed some of the loverly green trees turning colors . . . colors such as blood red, gross orange and death yellow.  Ok, very pretty to look at but its also the official announcement of summer’s end . . . death to sun and only cool, rainy and more cold in the near future.

I just thought I’d share some of my summertime photos.  The boys and I had such a great summer!  We made new friends and spent tons of time out of doors . . . even got to visit the zoo and the coast.  But mostly just a lot of time, locally, at the parks playing in the water.

Samuel at the downtown, Waterfront Park, playing in the water.  One of  three water-feature parks that we frequented this summer. Kept the hot hot days from being too hot.

Minto-Brown is another favorite . . . no water features . . . but a huge dog park, walking trails galore, and the coveted black berry bushes.  The boys, dog and mom and dad, all get worn out with this outing.

Riverfront Park.  Tobias tumbling.  If you look close enough at the dude sitting on the ground beyond Sam, you’ll see the python (or Boa, whichever) hanging out on his neck.  Uh, ok.

Picnicking at Riverfront . . . same day, same snake guy sitting behind us.

Waiting for the movie in the park to begin; Samuel.

Tob and Dad . . . watching the movie in the park.  

One of our squashes with the bloom still on.  The garden has been one of the highlights of this summer, for me!

Tobias starts preschool tomorrow and I’m a bit nervous about this new venture  . . . kind of another milestone and I feel like those milestones are whipping by at lightning speed.  Hey . . . at least I didn’t refer to the time flying bit.  Give me some credit.

Anyhoo . . . I’ll have new photos tomorrow evening of that event.

God bless your week!!

Growing Up Tobias

As I’ve said so many times I can’t count, time flies!

Tobias . . .

. . . is growing up.  That’s kinda what they’re good at . . . well, that and getting amazingly dirty in an amazingly short period of time, eating anything sugar laden, and being so adorable I want to cry.

Tob starts preschool in one week.  We went and replaced his worn out summertime shoes and got him a few pieces of clothing . . . because he’s outgrown all 4T clothing, especially pants, from last year.  Interesting what happens while they’re running around in shorts for 3 months.

We go and meet his teacher and check out his school on Friday.  And Tuesday he rides their little bus to school.  They welcome parents on the bus with them . . . so I’ve officially elected Justin to ride with him the first time (if not the first week) . . . I would but I’m, um, what they refer to as “emotional”.  I don’t think I’d be much of a calming agent whilst accompanying my kid.

I put in Tob’s height and weight and found out he’s tall.  44 inches tall. Yeah, I used one of those converter things online to come up with 3′7″ (no math problems until after coffee is consumed).  Height averages . . . granted I don’t know what is a legit site and what is not . . . but this was written out very plainly for me to see, so I’m using it.  You know you can roughly try to figure out how tall your kid is gonna be but its based on the parent’s height.  That only works so good . . . don’t you take into consideration how tall the mammoths are on the momma’s side? Check it out here

These are 2 of my 3 brothers . . . and my dad.  My dad is 6′4″ . . . Bill is 6′7″ . . . . Jon is around 6′3″ or so.  Not out there tall but definitely taller than the 5′11″ I was given based on mine and Justin’s height.

Um, not sure why I’m going on and on about this.  Obviously there is more important things than the height of your child, now or at 22 years old . . . but I find it interesting.

Ope, speaking of the tots . . . I hear them, finally arising from slumber.

New School Year

Ok, the mayhem doesn’t actually begin until the 28th of September.  But Justin had orientation for the Paramedic Program this past week, so our eyes have been fully opened to just how intense and busy the program is!  We’re talking 6-7 days a week, going going going.  Geez . . . not to mention the amount of driving that will have to be done by my one true love.

We picked this apartment for several reasons, but one main one was the close proximity to the Chemeketa campus.  Yeah . . . they (Chemeketa Community College) decided to refurbish or remodel, whatever, the paramedic area of the campus.  Soooo, for this year only, the paramedic program students will be meeting on the Santiam campus . . . uh, 40 minutes away in Stayton, Or. This is the beginning of the drive-time nightmare.  He also will be interning, starting winter term (January) and will be on duty anywhere from Eugene to Portland . . . and the location changes periodically.  Hmmm.  Eugene is an hour drive . . . Portland, not much better.

But, God willing, we’ll have the funds to get the Honda in good working order and that will be the commute car.

Is that enough whining??

We have never lost the perspective of the obvious blessing in all of this  . . . the favor J’s had with the teachers and staff, etc.  25 people got into the Paramedic program this year . . . out 130 some odd applicants.  Not too shabby . . . not earth shattering but a blessing nonetheless!

Lets see, that covers the school/Justin extravaganza.

I have two cute boys.  The younger, Samuel, is turning a whole 3 years old in a week!  Yikes . . . shall I say it?  Yep, I’m gonna do it . . . .Time Flies!  Yeah, I have to agree, he’s cute.  Blond curlies and green eyeballs.  :)  We’ve started potty training in the last 2 or so weeks . . . and that is going well, for the most part. I’m just excited to be rid of diapers soon!  We’re headed to the zoo this Saturday to meet up with my dad, sisters and cousins . . . we’ll do a mini-celebration for his upcoming b-day and my dad’s b-day, which is Sunday.  Fun times!

Tobias, the eldest, is headed to preschool in less than 2 weeks.  I’m not positive how I feel about this shift in Tuckerland, but I’m sure it will turn out good for all involved.  Tob is so so so excited!  He’s super social and has accumulated friends . . . despite his mother’s hermit ways.

Look how tall he’s getting!  I don’t know, but he might take after the male-giants on my side of the fam.  He’s a ball of energy and revels being outside and busy.  In this pic we are headed down to the amphitheater at Riverfront Park in downtown Salem to watch an outdoor movie.  Brilliant idea for families, by the way!

Getting too big for the jogging stroller!  Ikes!  Now what do I do??

That about sums it up.  Nothing groundbreakingly new . . . just life.  And two cute boys to occupy my time.

Hope all is well with friends and fam!

God bless!

Day at the Beach

Justin got an internship  . . . I guess thats what you call it . . . with Clackamas County.  So his first day was today, getting that old 24 hour shift revved back into gear.  Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunities and favor!!  I’ll tell the story of how that fell into place sometime . . . someday.

But not now.

My elder sister, Kelli, and her son, Braxton, picked myself and my boys up, for a coast trip.  We crammed all of us into her snazzy sedan, our destination, Oregon Coast Aquarium.

We had gorgeous weather, 60 degrees + and sunshine, and happy tots.  We had an amazing time catching up, laughing . . . which is something we do a lot of when we’re together . . . and watching the boys all play together, times I cherish living a distance from her and my other sis and her son.

We then ended up on Nye Beach in Newport, I think we were still in Newport.  So very windy but still fun watching the boys play in the sand and climb the rocks.

We did get lots of photos, but on my sister’s camera . . . I’ll share some when I get them.

I was dreading spending today on my own . . . its been a long last few weeks with Justin so busy around mid-terms and starting up his paramedic intern thingy majig . . . and the thought of spending a weekend day without me hubby was not going over well . . . but, as always, God knows how much we can handle and our needs, wants and all the in between.  Not to make it a selfish thing but I felt really blessed today!

I’m looking forward to having Aidrik the end of this week . . . Thursday – to Saturday morning.  Thats my other nephew.  Should be fun and stuff!

I’m also thinking of my selfless mother moreso this weekend . . . my inspiration and model to motherhood!  So, Happy Mother’s Day, to those hard working and selfless women out there who keep on giving, even when we don’t feel like we can give another inch . . . by God’s grace we keep giving.

Life and Time

Taking care of kids . . . two boys that are the age where they don’t show appreciation for much . . . but require you to serve them quite a bit still.  Most of the time, that is fine, sometimes it grates on my poor nervous system.

Today is one of those grating days.

They have been fighting over one train engine.  One.  They own 10 but the one is the most important train engine of all and if they don’t both have that train engine . . . well, something really bad will happen and stuff.

Being that it was one of Tob’s b-day presents from this past Saturday . . . the right still stands that the thing is his and he doesn’t have share for awhile.

But that does not keep Samuel from slipping up beside Tob while Tob is distracted and snatching the little red train engine out from under T’s nose and booking it out of there . . . usually with Tob on his heels, demanding the train engine back with a shrill screaming shrieking voice that splits the support beams of our apartment structure and makes my ears bleed. Sometimes it comes to a wrestling match as well . . . mmm, fun stuff.

I believe, even though they’ve been asleep for some time, for nap, my ears are still dripping.

Tob was always the loud one. But lately Samuel has joined the shrieking ranks as back-up screamer.  Or, if needed, ‘I’m in trouble, just kidding, but no . . . really, I’m in trouble . . . maybe pain, I’m not sure . . . just get in here’ screamer.

Its not always like that . . . I’m sure my loverly attitude today did not help the attitudes of the subject boys at hand.

But, a lot of times it is.  Constant movement, constant pushing of the envelope and constant noise . . . whether is screaming or just talking or singing their hearts out . . . noise.

This is where I insert that God has truly blessed our family and I know we have our health and He has provided more than enough for me and mine. 

Now, just a little sanity . . .

They’re napping now . . . nap time for me too, I believe.

Turning Into Little Boys

I had two baby boys . . . I think they are turning into little boys and not babies so much anymore.  I like to pretend Sam is still a little baby . . . I often get in trouble for coddling him . . . but, in reality, he is not.  Not gonna stop me from savoring every second left of his latter half of his second year of life! 

I am planning Tobias’ 4th birthday party.  4th!  When did that all happen.

I’m gonna say it . . .

You can’t stop me . . .

here I go . . .

Yep, thats right . . .

TIME FLIES!

Especially as I age.  A year seems so short now, when it used to seem like eternity.

I love these two hooligans and I’m so stinkin’ blessed to be home with them to be able to mother them . . . they’ll always be my babies!!

ps . . . so I’m thinking a toy train cake or a hotwheel cake . . . not sure which one.  or I might do something totally off the wall . . . like a polka dot cake.  Ok, maybe not.  Any ideas??